In push for new work, Goodman Theatre launches New Stages Amplified series

The Goodman Theatre said Thursday that the final Owen Theatre subscription slot in its 2011-12 season will be not one but three different shows, all fully staged but on a modest scale. Subscribers will each get assigned to see one of the three staggered world premieres running between Oct. 13 and Nov. 20 in the New Stages Amplified series.

Brown's play looks at an African-American prisoner held in the notorious British prison in the 19th century; Tolan's fact-based piece is about the Chilean economists who were educated at the University of Chicago in 1970 and became disciples of Milton Friedman; Bockley's play imagines a man in his twenties who moonlights as an online advice columnist.

In structure, the new Goodman endeavor appears comparable to Steppenwolf's First Look festival. Audiences will be able to give feedback on the plays, helping writers to further develop their works.